Runny Nose Common Cold in Children

common cold: Treating running nose! caring for kids, their health and illness: Child health specialist pediatrician MumbaiTreating running nose is no big deal... but treating its complications and PNDrip (postnasal drip) is a headache for the practitioner. In fact, I had seen pediatricians admitting and sedating for 3 days to get rid off. combination decongestants for patient and family.Have a noisy nose, Sneezy cough, feel feverish and unwell... Yet you can do most of daily routine with Little cough cold and wet HankiesYes you got the common cold...better called seasonal fluActually nothing is so cold...in fact it's hot in nose throat or chest and forehead..People often strongly feel that drinking cold water will always give common cold to every one.It's not exactly same. www.kondekar.com1*.Common cold is often caused by flu Viruses that spread through breath and not only cold water. If u had been in contact with a person who has common cold u may catch it in next five days depending on your immunity LEVEL.It's normal to catch cold 8 times a year in first year of life, six times a year in second year of life and three times a year in adults.2.if some person gets repeatedly so called common cold, then it's no longer a common cold and it is actually the uncommon cold.3.Uncommon cold can be seen in a. children and adults having predisposing for allergy/atopy b. Having enlarged tonsil or adenoids which get easily infected being abnormal c. Having structural problems in nose like deviated septum, over grown turbinate, polyp, sinus infection or any other issue blocking the nasal passage of air in part or completely4.Common cold in kids with tonsil issues often gets aggreviated by food particles/sugar stuck in tonsillar parts which becomes a bed for Bacteria to grow and that causes swollen throats/tonsils in most common colds Good gargle helps prevent it so does drinking a cup of water after eating anything.5.Symptoms need medicines. Not treating symptoms affects quality of life... Sleep sports speech studies etc Random treatment gives random relief.Specific treatment is possible only with specific UnderstandingDr Kondekar 7021713681tricks:

Running nose:

A very common problem; watery or thick.. continuous or intermittent..with fever or without fever, yellow white.. (pardon the allergic once, they come with paroxysmal sudden sneezing and are more easy to treat... oral atihistaminics or nasal antihistaminics and or steroid inhalers.. but you too pls do read below)watery or thick.. :Clean nostrils with ear buds/bulb ( no ENT will advice, but i do, by cleaning I mean cleaning the alae nasae- the outer part), periodically, if its thicker.. use saline drops (nasomist spray) : no of drops + no of months of age till 8 months.. then 10 drops for all, wait 2 seconds after each drop.. then clean with ear buds once the drops are over. why more drops? - Bcos you want to douche the whole nasopharynx and clean the nose; the sticky secretions along nasopharynx will be dragged to oropharynx and then swallowed.If its running continuously, one may prefer putting decongestant nasal drop like xxxx drops.. or nxxx mini drops, ( i will avoid xylometazoline and oxymetazolin drops in children as much possible ) use only 2 to 4 drops at any age.. nose will dry within 20 minutes provided drops are put after drying the nose with ear buds.. small dose bcos we want local action. Dont keep it TDS ( 3 times a day), can be used SOS (as and when required). TDS use makes nose dry.. and the worst nose block will happen and child will be very irritable crying refusing to feeds etc. (discuss with your doc in details).Treatment of noseblock:commonest cause; inadvertant or TDS use of decongestant or sleeping in front of / facing fan.... stuffy nose.Treatment:saline drops: I use nasoXXX/normal saline drops/spray procedure as above. But keep it TDS, keep nose wet, avoid drying by air/drugs. Stop decongestant drops. If child is cranky, do a mechanical nasal suction tiding over the crisis.. the thick secretions may be difficult to suck by syringe. Give A soothing nebulisation following suction, Clinical indicator: Irritability settles, child sleeps.TDS means three times a dayTreatment of Any of above with fever ; with or without PND: combination cold syrupsAdd a simple antipyretic 9fever medicine), paracetamol: regular dose, round the clock for 2 days. If running nose, give combination with decongestant TDS orally, I find syp xxx more effective. (though many parents complain that the taste isnt good.. let me teach you feeding medicines without having taste of it)For PND: a good saline nebulisation with prior nasal suction and saline drop wash of nose. continue oral PCM and decongestant drops combination for 3 days.PND here means post nasal or throat irritation.At times a short course chemotherapy with azithromycin may help if it lasts more than 72 hrs. Please discuss with your doctor.No medicines should be taken with out a consultation and prescription from a qualified Dr.

The risk in any common cold or flu is the chance of it spreading down to cause bronchitis or pneumonia or bronchiolitis, though not so common. keep a watch on refusal to feed , breathless ness and worsening cough. Discuss with your doc accordingly regarding further plan.

Pediatric consultations and advice in difficult cases and diseases affecting children upto age 18 years.
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Dr Kondekar's Postulates
Every disease often presents in typical bookish picture... cos these books are written with decades of observations and research. if not so, either we havent read the books or may be its time to go.. read.. or write about.
If a disease doesnot improve with therapy; any of following is likely that...
1. If diagnosis is right .. we are surely missing some complications
2. If not so then the treatment of choice is either wrong,inadequate, and incomplete in drugs or dose or duration.
3. If not so..then most likely diagnosis is wrong or incomplete. A twist in diagnosis can bring dramatic results.
4. if not so.. then we need some patience and time for same or new treatment and its effect.
All diseases do not have complete cure; but there is lot more to do in almost every case to improve quality of care and therapy.